Dead in the water.

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rpcraft

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Time for choo choo power!!!!!
 

Dutch Rutter

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Time for choo choo power!!!!!

I dont know about Choo Choo power. But definitely need more then these boat anchor cylinder heads have to offer. just rolled around under the truck and the trans and t-case are holding fluid just fine now.
 

71RAT

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Check pressure or pull a cooling line, like suggested. Thoughs early th700's are notorious broken pumps, also input sprags. If it's the sprag it should try to move in D321. If the pump is broke check your flex plate closely.
Transmission Rebuilder 30 years!
 

Dutch Rutter

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Check pressure or pull a cooling line, like suggested. Thoughs early th700's are notorious broken pumps, also input sprags. If it's the sprag it should try to move in D321. If the pump is broke check your flex plate closely.
Transmission Rebuilder 30 years!

So far things seem to be working out after the rebuild. I do have a little bit more of a vibration at idle then what I remember, not violent just very small. and it seems that I have a little less power to the wheels just off idle then I did before. but once you get on it she runs and shifts beautifully smooth and fast. I think the trans is feeling good but I do have to take it back to the shop this week for a quick check up. Thanks for the solid info 71Rat
 

rpcraft

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If you want off the line power you can get one of the edelbrock RPM air gap intakes and combine it with a matching Performer RPM cam #7102. Common thinking would make you think it only will perform better up higher but it shows a healthy increase across the whole RPM spectrum, and it starts to make a lot of torque right off idle. When I did my 77 Jimmy I just did a Performer setup and a few months later a friend of mine who knew a lot more about building power put that performer rpm setup and an air gap in our other buddies blazer. Mine was OK off the line and had good power and torque for sure but my friend with the blazer could just roll the throttle and tear up the back tires... Was a remarkable difference, and he was running the same gear and tire size I was. I think the only other combination he did on the setup was running 1.6 rockers but I can't recall for certain and unfortunately my friend who was the real builder in our group passed away last year. If you wanted to save a few bucks and are too worried about hood clearance you could go with just the normal RPM intake and you probably would not feel the difference.
 

Dutch Rutter

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Thanks for the great info @rpcraft

I just got back from my 10day Checkup with the trans shop. They said everything is looking great, no leaks, no strange noises, vibrations or shifting, etc and so forth. They did however say that the engine oil leak is small, yet coming from the rear of the valve cover gaskets and the front center of the intake manifold.

So with this in mind I'm not too worried about it as when I do get around to gaining additional power from the motor I do plan on replacing the heads, cam, intake manifold, and valve covers (get some nice cast aluminum). Not to sure on with what yet for the actual parts, but there will be time for that. For now on the to do list is rebuilding or replacing my front driveshaft, replacing all shocks, steering stab, leaf spring bushings, front sway bar quick disconnect with new sway bar bushings, getting my headers installed and some small exhaust clearance issues sorted out. THEN motor work.... Kinda like eating my veggies before I get to do the fun stuff. :burnout:
 

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Hmmm?

Low idle miss?
Could be a tad lean at idle.
Could be a valve adjustment needed.
Check and read the plugs.
 

rpcraft

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Thanks for the great info @rpcraft

I just got back from my 10day Checkup with the trans shop. They said everything is looking great, no leaks, no strange noises, vibrations or shifting, etc and so forth. They did however say that the engine oil leak is small, yet coming from the rear of the valve cover gaskets and the front center of the intake manifold.

So with this in mind I'm not too worried about it as when I do get around to gaining additional power from the motor I do plan on replacing the heads, cam, intake manifold, and valve covers (get some nice cast aluminum). Not to sure on with what yet for the actual parts, but there will be time for that. For now on the to do list is rebuilding or replacing my front driveshaft, replacing all shocks, steering stab, leaf spring bushings, front sway bar quick disconnect with new sway bar bushings, getting my headers installed and some small exhaust clearance issues sorted out. THEN motor work.... Kinda like eating my veggies before I get to do the fun stuff. :burnout:



Intake leaks are the perfect excuse to upgrade that intake and carb and then you are just a stones throw away from a cam and new water pump. Consider it preventative maintenance.
 

Dutch Rutter

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Intake leaks are the perfect excuse to upgrade that intake and carb and then you are just a stones throw away from a cam and new water pump. Consider it preventative maintenance.

This is exactly what I'm thinking as well. But @Snoots Also brought up a very good point. Everything seems to be fine, no misfires that I've noticed but that doesent mean they arent there. I also realized that since I've owned the truck, 2.5 years or so, I haven't looked at the plugs. So i went ahead and changed them out for some new NGK-R they all looked about the same and I really dont know how to read a plug too well so I attached a pic of #1 there seems to be some burned junk on the side electrode on each of the plugs. I always run premium in the truck but I highly doubt the PO did.

As for existing power upgrades, the PO did put in a cam (I have no idea as to what) timing gears instead of chain, it has what I believe to be the bad "lite" cylinder heads for this year, an older edelbrock RPM intake (with the choke exhaust hole that is blocked off) and an edelbrock 1406 so its fairly basic from what I've been able to see. All in all it runs well and pulls decently. But as a daily driven truck that also tows every now and then and goes offroad every now and then I feel it needs some more umph behind it. Nothing too much but definitely more to keep those prius from passing me on a incline without punching that go pedal.

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Snoots

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From what I see, those are just fuel deposits, likely from a lot of short distance driving. But for 2.5 years that doesn't look bad at all. Not that I'd put anything like that back in.
The spark gap appears to be a bit small. I use a .45 gap in mine w/HEI ignition.

How's it running with the new plugs?

If the PO did a cam swap, there's no guarantee he set the valves right. Just a thought.

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Dutch Rutter

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From what I see, those are just fuel deposits, likely from a lot of short distance driving. But for 2.5 years that doesn't look bad at all. Not that I'd put anything like that back in.
The spark gap appears to be a bit small. I use a .45 gap in mine w/HEI ignition.

How's it running with the new plugs?

If the PO did a cam swap, there's no guarantee he set the valves right. Just a thought.

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That is good news. Here i was thinking my carb might be way out of adjustment. I did set the new ones to a .45 gap before install and the old ones are definitely smaller then that. It starts a lot easier (fewer cranks) then it did with the old ones. I haven't taken it out for a spirited drive yet but I will either tonight or tomorrow.

The valves are another good point. I don't hear any excessive lash or anything out of place but once again that doesn't mean its not there and I'm just missing it. I am planning on taking it into a shop for a quote on those small oil leaks (figure might as well) and when I have it there I'll go ahead and ask them to check things over for me. Coming into the summer months it'll be seeing more weekend use then it does not so I want to make sure everything is on the up and up.

From what I've been able to tell, I'm at least the 3rd owner of the truck. The first owner did great work, nice thorough and clean. The guy i bought it from (second owner) didn't have it very long and did not do much with it, but what he did do was cheap fixes. Like a hollowed out ball point pen for a broken vac line. So its been an interesting experience to say the least.
 

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